Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses and thank the Minister of State for standing in for the Minister, Deputy Harris. I have some questions for Mr. Connaghan and others relating to the CervicalCheck issue which could be answered by Mr. McCallion or Mr. Connaghan. This will be a quick-fire round because we only have a certain amount of time for questions.

Is Mr. Connaghan considering any structural changes of the directorates under him in the HSE? If so, what are they? My question on winter planning has been addressed so I do not wish to spend time on it except to say that the fact we do not have a plan is crazy. What is the timeline for the development of the new rapid-build units in Limerick and Clonmel?

When will the agreement be signed with the relevant drug company in regard to Respreeza? This matter has been going on for over a year. I have spoken publicly about a neighbour of mine named Marian Kelly - no relation - who died after being taken off the drug. Last week her daughter met the Minister, Deputy Harris, in Nenagh when he was opening a facility there. I understand a deal is very close. Her children wish to honour their mother by ensuring that every person who needs this drug will receive it. When will the agreement be signed? The response from the HSE on this issue has not been very good in terms of communication.

Will the HSE consider decentralising recruitment for 2019? The centralisation of recruitment up to a certain level is taking too long and is not a good idea. I have been contacted by qualified people seeking nursing jobs who want to work and stay in Ireland but cannot work for the HSE because the process takes too long. In one case of which I am aware a person who wishes to work in a region has been waiting six months for a post. I have also had this verified in other ways. Could recruitment up to a certain level be decentralised in the regions? It would work better and I ask the witnesses to consider it.

I asked Mr. McCallion some brief questions on cervical screening in another forum last week. On the 20-week wait for screening, It was confirmed to me that women triaged as requiring screening possibly within six months are in the same boat as women seeking a triennial check-up and the HSE cannot distinguish between the two groups. That could have a negative medical impact on women's lives. A person for whom a check-up within six months has been recommended and another who is seeking a three-yearly smear test will both experience a 20-week delay. The different categories should be distinguished and prioritised according to need. I raised this issue last week and received a very honest response which was one of the best I have received at a committee. However, the issue must be dealt with and I ask Mr. Connaghan to confirm that the HSE is doing so.

I seek some basic facts regarding the 221 women. How many are, unfortunately, deceased; how many are in the middle of treatment; and how many are post-cancer? I am seeking a breakdown of the total number of smears those women had and the labs in which those smears were read. The fact that we have been waiting over six months for this information is unacceptable and does not breed confidence. When will the audit recommence? It is not good enough that it has stopped. All the variables have stayed the same.

From 1 January onwards, with all the variables staying the same and with no audit, it means that pro rata, more women are being affected in some way. When will it commence again and how will the HSE deal with that?

I appreciate that Mr. McCallion gave me information last week and he may have an update this week on why it is taking so long. I do not want to misquote him and am open to correction but I believe he said it was 22 days on average. It turns out that many women are waiting three to four months to get their slides. There is a breakdown here somewhere. What is it and why are women waiting so long?

With regard to the impact of the Scally report, what action has Mr. Connaghan taken outside of the recommendations made by Dr. Scally? I understand the HSE will implement all the recommendations. I refer to issues concerning the burden of duty in the laboratories and note that cases are being settled by the laboratories because there was a burden of duty. I asked the State Claims Agency a question last week about how many cases involved negligence. In cases where we are aware of an issue with the laboratory, why are the laboratories not being inspected by the HSE? Under any other normal contractual relationship, in cases where there was a known issue with a laboratory, it would be inspected. Those are my questions and I thank the Chairman.